Premiering at Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival, Ms. Information documents the work and life of microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Director Gwen Isaac tells us more.
BUY TIX VIA NZIFFDescribe your movie in exactly eight words.
Expert woman on a crusade reveals unique times.
How did you first come across Siouxsie Wiles and what drove you to tell their story?
I was meant to be flying to Japan to film a Māori cage fighter, but when the flight got cancelled in March 2020 I needed to find a new film, and fast. Siouxsie Wiles was all over our screens, talking about this mysterious virus and she presented unlike any expert in a crisis I had come across. I was intrigued and as an observational filmmaker I thought, I’d really like to see how she handles whatever is coming down the line for us globally, but from the NZ perspective. I knew Siouxsie’s unique perspective as a science communicator and expert in infectious diseases with her unique approach to leadership would create blowback from traditionalists.
What was it like to have such close proximity to a central figure responding to COVID-19?
I wasn’t really interested in the virus at the time but I am always really compelled to follow interesting characters—extreme people with big social issue agendas. My central question over the entire production period for Ms. Information was always, why is she compelled to do this? She prioritised New Zealanders having an understanding of the science around the pandemic, above her own family and a quiet life. Siouxsie and her family privileged me with amazing access for two years and I became part of the furniture. It’s my belief that between the demands on her time to be the face of pandemic science, that we see the real Siouxsie. Audiences can make up their own minds about her—and her choices.
Has seeing the hatred directed at Wiles changed how you feel about our society?
I’ve seen and heard things on the internet I cannot unsee in the process of researching this film. There were repeat offenders towards Siouxsie that I needed to keep tabs on and yes, it did stop me sleepwalking through my life. At times, it felt like a lot of New Zealand was oblivious to very mobilised folk (with keyboards) with diverging world views. The pandemic acted like a very potent social experiment conducted on New Zealand. The changing and polarising identity of our people is woven Siouxsie’s story. I think how Siouxsie deals with her opposers is unique and will surprise audiences.
Can you share something about your own experience making a film documenting events during the pandemic?
It was like running towards the volcano at times, making this film. All my colleagues in the film industry were downing tools, but we had material that we needed to cover to keep on track with this dynamic story. We adhered to all government regulations with regards to filming but I managed four days with Siouxsie before the historic nationwide lockdown in March 2020. We researched archive galore to help ensure Ms. Information is moored in real time. Over those two years, New Zealand enjoyed more freedom of movement domestically than in other countries so I was still able to cover Siouxsie’s public engagements and homelife without much obstruction.
For me, it was balancing my full time teaching job and single mum-dom to two kids that became the juggling act of a lifetime. With a lot of patience from Siouxsie in Auckland and generousity from my community in Wellington, it worked out . Over two years we accumulated around sixty shoot days total, which became terabytes of data to craft a film from.
What was the hardest cut you had to make in the editing room?
I filmed the 2020 election roll out from Siouxsie’s house, a party with four of their friends that ended with a boardgame called Contagion. I remember thinking Eve, their teenage daughter, had such interesting things to say about politics that night, but it didn’t make the cut sadly.
For you, what was the most memorable part of this whole experience?
I think that having a crew in your home on-and-off for two years is more than most families could bear. Eve, Steven and Siouxsie managed extremely well and I’ll never forget their patience and chocolate mousse.
What was the last great film you saw?
I am still ruminating on Triangle of Sadness, which isn’t a documentary but there are so many interesting parallels in that film to the threat to social cohesion we have experienced since the pandemic, it’s startling.
